FEEDING BEEF CATTLE 



261 



pounds gain in case of steers of different ages in winter and sum- 

 mer are, on the average, as follows : 7 



Feed Required for 100 Pounds Gain with Steers of Different Ages 



According to a common rule of stockmen, it takes 1000 pounds 

 grain and 500 pounds rough feed per 100 pounds gain in the feed 

 lot; the averages of the returns on which the preceding data are 

 based are 924 pounds grain and 428 pounds of roughage, showing 

 that this rule gives a somewhat liberal allowance of feed 8 (Fig. 60) . 



The percentage dressed weight of cattle in thin body flesh- 

 will generally come from 54 to 58 per cent, and for fattening steers 

 from 58 to 65 per cent or better, according to the breed and the 

 degree of finish. The percentage dressed weight of steers but 

 rarely exceeds 70 per cent on ordinary "fill" and when correct 

 weights are taken. Cows and sheep, as a rule, dress between 50 and 

 55 per cent ; and hogs between 75 and 80 per cent or better. 



Cattle Markets. — The largest central cattle markets in the 

 country were located in 1910 as follows: Chicago (over 3,000,000 

 cattle received during the year), Kansas City (2,250,000), Omaha 

 and St. Louis (both about 1,250,000), Fort Worth, Texas New 

 York, and St. Joseph, Mo. (decreasing, in the order given, from 

 1,000,000 to 500,000). Other important cattle markets are St. 

 Paul, Sioux City, Denver, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Buffalo, etc. 

 The relative importance of these markets will doubtless change with 

 the further development of our cattle industry, since cattle markets 

 follow in the wake of the producing areas ; western cattle markets 

 have developed rapidly during the last few decades, while the 

 eastern markets have in general declined. 9 



Shrinkage of Cattle. — When cattle are sold a certain deduction 



'Illinois Circular 88. 



*Loc. cit.; see also S. D. Bui. 125; N. M. Bui. 91; Indiana (Purdue) 

 Bui. 146; N. H. Bui. 182 

 9 Illinois Circular 169. 



